Er. Since I have begun, I will go through with my Enquiries.  How do you find yourself affected towards Sermons?

Ga. Very well, I go to them as devoutly as if I was a going to a holy Assembly; and yet I pick and chuse whom to hear, for there are some, one had better not hear than hear; and if such an one happens to preach, or if it happen that no Body preaches, I pass this Time in reading the Scriptures, I read the Gospel or Epistle with Chrysostom’s or Jerome’s Interpretation, or any other pious and learned Interpreter that I meet with.

Er. But Word of Mouth is more affecting.

Ga. I confess it is.  I had rather hear if I can but meet with a tolerable Preacher; but I don’t seem to be wholly destitute of a Sermon if I hear Chrysostom or Jerome speaking by their Writings.

Er. I am of your Mind; but how do you stand affected as to Confession?

Ga. Very well; for I confess daily.

Er. Every Day?

Ga. Yes.

Er. Then you ought to keep a Priest to yourself.

Ga. But I confess to him who only truly remits Sins, to whom all the Power is given.

Er. To whom?

Ga. To Christ.

Er. And do you think that’s sufficient?

Ga. It would be enough for me, if it were enough for the Rulers of the Church, and receiv’d Custom.

Er. Who do you call the Rulers of the Church?

Ga. The Popes, Bishops and Apostles.

Er. And do you put Christ into this Number?

Ga. He is without Controversy the chief Head of e’m all.

Er. And was he the Author of this Confession in use?

Ga. He is indeed the Author of all good; but whether he appointed Confession as it is now us’d in the Church, I leave to be disputed by Divines.  The Authority of my Betters is enough for me that am but a Lad and a private Person.  This is certainly the principal Confession; nor is it an easy Matter to confess to Christ; no Body confesses to him, but he that is angry with his Sin.  If I have committed any great Offence, I lay it open, and bewail it to him, and implore his Mercy; I cry out, weep and lament, nor do I give over before I feel the Love of Sin throughly purged from the Bottom of my Heart, and some Tranquility and Chearfulness of Mind follow upon it, which is an Argument of the Sin being pardoned.  And when the Time requires to go to the holy Communion of the Body and Blood of Christ; then I make Confession to a Priest too, but in few Words, and nothing but what I am well satisfy’d are Faults, or such that carry in them a very great Suspicion that they are such; neither do I always take it to be a capital or enormous Crime, every Thing that is done contrary to human Constitutions, unless a wicked Contemptuousness shall go along with it:  Nay, I scarce believe any Crime to be Capital, that has not Malice join’d with it, that is, a perverse Will.